classic book list Taoism - T'ai Chi Ch'uan worth reading

Taoism - T'ai Chi Ch'uan
========================

"365 Tao" A Taoist study and meditation for each day of the year
by Deng Ming-Dao
Dharma Communications

"Awakening Healing Light of the Tao"
by Mantak and Maneewan Chia

"Cold Mountain" Taoist/Zen classic
101 Chinese Poems
by Han Shan
translated by Burton Watson
Shambhala Publications

"Cultivating Chi" Meditation, Breathing, Practice
"The Secrets of Energy and Vitality"
translation of the Yang family training manual
available from Pacific Spirit Whole Life Products

"Scholar Warrior" Excellent book on all aspects of practical Taoist
An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life spiritual practice
by Deng Ming-Dao
Dharma Communications

"The Wandering Taoist" Training and life of a Taoist Master
by Deng Ming-Dao and Sai Hung Kwan
also two subsequent books

"Chronicles of Tao" The above three books in one volume
The Secret Life of a Taoist Master
by Deng Ming-Dao
Dharma Communications

"Tao Te Ching"
translation by Gia-Fu feng and Jane English
Dharma Communications

"Taoism - the Road to Immortality"
by John Blofeld

classic spiritual books on tantra

Tantra
======

"Introduction to Tantra"
A Vision of Totality
by Lama Yeshe
edited by Jonathan Landaw
Dharma Communications

"Passionate Enlightenment:
Women in Tantric Buddhism"
by Miranda Shaw
Princeton University Press
This thoroughly researched treatise is an excellent book
on the correct, practical aspects of tantric practice.

"Mother of the Universe: -- Ramprasad and Application
Visions of the Goddess and Tantric Hymns of Enlightenment"
by Les Hixson
Quest Books

"Tantra"
by Philup Rawson

"Tantric Mysticsm of Tibet"
by John Blofeld

"Tantric Practices in Nying-Ma"
by Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche

"Yoga, Tantra, and Meditation in Daily Life"
by Swami Janakananda
Pyramid Books

classic tibetan books of old worth reading!

classic tibetan books of old worth reading!

Tibetan
=======

"A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night"
A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life
by H.H. the Dalai Lama
DharmaCrafts

"Gesture of Balance"
by Lama Tarthang Tulku
Dharma Publishing

"Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism"
by John Powers
Snow Lion Publications

"Shambhala - Sacred Path of the Warrior"
by Lama Chogyam Trungpa
Shambhala Publishing

"The Practice of Tranquility and Insight" Practical guide
A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Beginning and advanced
by Khenchen Trangyu
DharmaCrafts

"The Snow Lion's Turquoise Mane"
Wisdom Tales from Tibet
by Surya Das
introduction by the Dalai Lama
foreward by Daniel Goleman

"The Tibetan Book of the Dead" One of the first Tibetan spiritual
The Great Liberation through books ever transalated into English
Hearing in the Bardo
transalated with commentary
by Francesca Freemantle and Lama Chogyam Trungpa
Shambhala Publications

"The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying"
by Sogyal Rinpoche
Snow Lion Publications

"The World of Tibetan Buddhism" Numerous other books
An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice by the Dalai Lama
by Tenzin Gyatzo, The 14th Dalai Lama
Translated, edited, and annotated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa
Wisdom Publications

classic sufi books list worth reading

Sufi
====

"Adventures in Afghanistan" Meeting with the Sufi central
by Louis Palmer organization, the mu'assisa.
ISHK Book Service

"Among the Dervishes"
by Omar Michael Burke
ISHK Book Service

"Journeys with a Sufi Master"
by Bashir M. Dervish
ISHK Book Service

"Tales from the Land of the Sufis"
by Mojdeh Bayat and Mohammad Ali Jamnia
Shambhala Publications

"The Sufis"
"Oriental Magic"
"Tales of the Dervishes"
"The Way of the Sufi"
"Wisdom of the Idiots"
"Sufi Thought and Action"
"Caravan of Dreams"
Various books by Idries Shah
ISHK Book Service

"Way of the Sufi" Multiple Volumes
by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Various books by Pir Vilayat Khan

classic meditation books

Meditation - Practice
=====================

"Art and Science of Meditation"
Himalayan Institute

"How to Raise an Ox"
Zen Practice as Taught in
Zen Master Dogen's Shobogenzo
by Francis Dojun Cook

"Kum Nye" Volumes 1 and 2 Good sections on meditation
by Lama Tarthang Tulku
Dharma Publishing

"The Miracle of Mindfulness" Zen Meditation and Application
by Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press

"Meditation"
Advice to Beginners
by Bokar Rinpoche
DharmaCrafts

"Openness Mind"
by Lama Tarthang Tulku
Dharma Publishing

"Serene Meditation" Complete instruction in meditation
by Roshi Jiyu-Kennet Excellent first book
Shasta Abbey Buddhist Supplies

"An Introduction to the Accompanying volume to
Tradition of Serene Meditation" "Serene Meditation"
Shasta Abbey Buddhist Supplies

"Taking the Path of Zen"
by Roshi Robert Aiken
North Point Press

"The Eight Gates of Zen" Excellent book on Zen Meditation,
by John Daido Loori training, and applied practice
Dharma Communications

"The Practice of Tranquillity and Insight"
A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation
by Kenchen Thrangu

"Theory and Practice of Meditation"
by Rudolph Ballentine
Himalayan Institute

"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" Founder of the Zen Center of
by Suziki Roshi San Francisco, a classic
Wisdom Publications

"Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice" Zen Meditation and Practice
by Thich Thien An

"Zen Training" Excellent book on Zen Meditation,
by Katsugi Sekida training, and applied practice
DharmaCrafts

great all round spiritual books list search these religious spiritual books out online

great all round spiritual books list search these religious spiritual books out online, often forgotten books in this list that are worth searching out on google books, amazon, or ebay among others to see if you can re find a old gem to help you in the present time.


Jewish
======

"Kabbalah"
The Way of a Jewish Mystic"
by Perle Epstein
Shambhala Publications Inc.


============================================================================

Meditation - Practice
=====================

Note: Many of the best books on meditation and yoga are
advertised in "Yoga International" Magazine.

Note: Many meditation and yoga books by all publishers
listed here are available from Dharma Communications
or Shambhala Publications. Both have catalogs and do
extensive mail order.

Note: Anyone interested in the practice or study of
Buddhism should obtain the book "550 Books on Buddhism"
from Dharma Publishing.

============================================================================

Introduction To Meditation Books
================================

These are particularly good first books, but not only first
books, on meditation.

"How to Meditate"
A Practical Guide
by Kathleen McDonald
edited by Robina Courtin
Dharma Communications

"Meditation" Kagyu Master
Advice to Beginners
by Bokar Rinpoche
Dharma Communications

"Mindfullness in Plain English" Step by step guide to Insight
by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana Meditation -- Vipassana
Dharma Communications Nondenomonational

"The Experience of Insight" Complete instruction in meditation
by Joseph Goldstein
Shambhala Publishing

"The Practice of Tranquility and Insight" Kagyu Master
A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation
by Khenchen Thrangu
Dharma Communications

books on traditional christian meditation and spiritual books

books on traditional christian meditation and spiritual books, here is a list of some good spiritual christian books worth looking for online, some of these books might be often forgotten but are mostly very good and worth finding again.


Christian / Applying Traditional Meditation To A Christian Life
================================================================

"Buddhism Made Plain"
An Introduction for Christians and Jews
by Antony Fernando with Leslie Swindler
DharmaCrafts

"Christian Mysticism"
The Art of the Inner Way
by William McNamara, OCD

"Enduring Grace"
Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics
by Carol Lee Flinders
DharmaCrafts

"Gentling the Heart"
Buddhist Loving-Kindness Practice for Christians
by Mary Jo Meadow
DharmaCrafts

"Lord, Teach Us to Pray"
Christian Zen and the Inner Eye of Love
by William Johnston
DharmaCrafts

"Meditation in Christianity"
Himalayan Institute

"Mystics and Zen Masters" By noted 20th century Trappist monk
by Thomas Merton and Christian Mystic
Dharma Communications

"Open Mind, Open Heart"
"Invitation to Love"
by Father Thomas Keating
DharmaCrafts

"Seven Story Mountain" Autobiography and spiritual journey
by Thomas Merton of Thomas Merton

"The Art of Meditationm" Instruction in meditation
by Joel Goldsmith by an American Christian Mystic
Dharma Communications

"The Ground We Share" by a Zen Master and a Benedictine Monk
Everyday Practice, Buddhist & Christian
by Roshi Robert Aiken and Father David Steindl-Rast
DharmaCrafts

"The Human Adventure" Modern Christian hermit and ascetic
The Art of Contemplative Living
by William McNamara
DharmaCrafts

"The Other Side of Silence" Christian classic
A Guide to Christian Meditation
by Morton T. Kelsey
DharmaCrafts

"The Practice of Zen Meditationm" Instruction in meditation
by Hugo M. Enomiya-Lassalle Excellent first book
Pyramid Books
Note: This is a particularly excellent book for Christians
seeking to learn full formal meditation. Roshi is a Jesuit
who studied for many years with the best Zen Masters in
Japan. He specifically addresses the issues of including
the generic mystic practices of yoga and meditation into a
Christian life.

"Ways of the Christian Mystics" By noted 20th century Trappist
by Thomas Merton monk and Christian Mystic

Various books
by C.S. Lewis

"Zen and the Birds of Appetite" Writings on Zen
by Thomas Merton
Shambhala Publishing

classic yoga books worth searching out online!

here are some classic yoga books tha are worth searching out online!

"A Search in Secret India"
by Paul Brunton

"Autobiography of a Yogi" Founder of SRF, along with
by Swami Paramahansa Yogananda Vivekananda, brought yoga to
DharmaCrafts the West.

"Great Swan" Life of Ramakrishna
Meetings with Ramakrishna
by Les Hixon
Shambhala Publishing

"Guru Nanak's Life and Thought" Founder of Sikh spiritual tradition
by Sirdar Kapur Singh
Guru Nanek Dev University

"Living at the Source" One of the first yoga teachers in the West
Yoga Teachings of Vivakanada
Shambhala Publishing

"Living with Kundalini"
by Gopi Krishna
Shambhala Publications

"Living With the Himalayan Masters"
by Swami Rama
Himalayan Institute Publishing

"Mantras"
Words of Power
by Swami Sivananda Radha
DharmaCrafts

"Meetings with Remarkable Men" Also an excellent movie
by Gurdjief available as a video

"On Truth"
by J. Krishnamurti
Shambhala Publications

"Play of Consciousness"
by Swami Muktananda
Siddha Yoga Foundation Publishing

"The Bhagvad Gita"
translation by Christopher Isherwood

"The Bhagvad Gita"
translation by Swami Prabuhad - Hari Krishna Tradition

"The Integral Yoga"
by Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo Association

"The Spiritual Athlete" Biographies of 24 of the world's
A Primer for the Inner Life" mystics
complied and edited by Ray Berry
Dharma Communications

"The Spiritual Teachings of Ramana Maharshi"
Shambhala Publishing

"The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali"
by Sri Swami Satchidananda
DharmaCrafts

Various books by Yogi Bhajan
3HO - Kundalini Yoga Tradition


Hatha Yoga and Practice Books
=============================

"Breathe! You Are Alive"
Discourse on Full Awareness of Breathing
commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh
DharmaCrafts

"Hatha Yoga"
by Theos Bernard

"Hatha Yoga"
The Hidden Language
by Swami Sivananda Radha
DharmaCrafts

"Hatha Yoga for Meditators"
S.Y.D.A. Foundation -- South Fallsburg, NY

"Hatha Yoga", Volumes 1 and 2
Himalayan Institute -- Honesdale, PA

"Integral Yoga"
by Sri Swami Satchidananda

"Kundalini Yoga for the West"
by Swami Radha -- Kamloops, BC

"Kum Nye" Volumes 1 and 2
by Lama Tarthang Tulku
Dharma Publishing

"Light on Yoga" -- Classsic Hatha Yoga Encyclopedia
by B.K.S. Iyenegar

"Science of Breath"
A Practical Guide
by Swami Rama, Rudolph Ballentine, M.D.
and Alan Hymes, M.D.
DharmaCrafts

"The Book of Life"
by Roshi Jiyu-Kennet and Rev. Daizui Phillamy
Shasta Abbey Buddhist Supplies

"The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga"
by Swami Vishnu Devananda

Various Yoga practice books
by Richard Hittleman

"Yoga International" Magazine -- many excellent books

"550 Books on Buddhism"
Dharma Publishing

"Bodhisattva of Compassion"
by John Blofeld
Shambhala Publications

"Dropping Ashes on the Buddha"
The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn
compiled and edited by Stephan Mitchell
DharmaCrafts

"Entering the Stream" Excellent Introduction to Buddhism
An Introduction to the Buddha and His Teachings
by Samuel Burcholz and Sherab Chodzin Kohn
Shambhala Publications

"How to Raise an Ox"
Zen Practice as Taught in
Zen Master Dogen's "Shobogenzo"
DharmaCrafts

"How the Swans Came to the Lake"
A History of Buddhism in America
Dharma Communications

"Nine Headed Dragon River"
by Peter Matheison

"Practice of Chinese Buddhism 1900 - 1950"
by Holmes Welch
Harvard University Press

"The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen"
Shambhala Publications

"The Wild White Goose" Volumes 1 and 2 Training of a Zen Master
by Roshi Jiyu-Kennet
Shasta Abbey Buddhist Supplies

"Three Pillars of Zen"
by Phillup Kapleau

"Ways of Enlightenment" Techniques of Spritual Practice
Buddhist Studies at Nyingma Institute
Dharma Publishing Excellent Introduction to Buddhist Practice

"Zen Flesh, Zen Bones"
by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki
Doubleday Anchor

"Zen in America"
by Helen Tworkov
Dharma Communications

"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"
by Shunryu Suzuki
Weatherhill

"Zen Wisdom"
Knowing and Doing
by Dr. Sheng-yen Chinese Ch'an Master
Ch'an Meditation Center Lin-chi and Ts'ao-tung Traditions

Note: Anyone interested in the practice or study of Tibetan
Buddhism should obtain the book catalogs from:
Dharma Publishing
Shambhala Publications Inc.
Snow Lion Publications
Dharma Communications
and "550 Books on Buddhism"

Note: There are many excellent books by The 14th Dalai Lama,
Tenzin Gyatso.

"Kindness, Clarity, and Insight"
by The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

"Magic and Mystery in Tibet"
Penguin Book
"Initiations and Initiates in Tibet"
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
by Alexandra David-Neel

"Memoirs of Political Officer's Wife in Tibet, Sikkim, and Bhutan"
by Margret D. Williamson
in collaboration with John Snelling
Wisdom Publications

"Ocean of Wisdom"
by The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

"Opening of the Wisdom Eye"
by The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

"Princess in the Land of Snows"
by Jamyang Sakya and Julie Emery
Shambhala Publishing

"Reflections of a Himalayan Pilgrim"
"Way of the White Clouds"
by Lama Anagarika Govinda

"Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up"
A Practical Approach for Modern Life
by B. Alan Wallace
Dharmacrafts

is yoga and buddhism the answer to world problems?

is yoga and buddhism the answer to world problems?

Namaste:



With all the news full of stories about bombings, mass murders,

militias, militant religious extremists of all stripes, spouting hatred

and distrust, and tales of assorted horrors perpetrated by a sweeping

spectrum of kooks, krazies, and bad guys in general, one could be

forgiven for wondering if we should be spending our time standing on our

heads. Maybe we should, I don't know, DO something!







Huh?



Maybe that answer makes more sense if we bear in mind that yoga is really

much broader in its scope than standing on our heads. Although most of

us initially become acquainted with yoga by learning yoga postures

(asanas), the classical approach to the practice of yoga as delineated by

Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra doesn't start with asanas. It begins with

five ethical principles called yama. The first and most important of

these is ahimsa, which is generally translated as nonviolence. Like the

other principles of yama, it is not a commandment: it doesn't say "Dont'

be violent." What the stutra actually says is that when the practitioner

is firmly established in nonviolence, hostility in his presence is

abandoned, which is to say that when we ourselves are nonviolenct,

violence will not take place around us.



As he does throughout the sutras, Patanjali in this sutra has cut

staight to the core of the matter. The problem of violence lies not

soemwhere outside us. It is within us. It is we who are violent. If we

were not, violence would not occur around us if we are to believe the

Yoga Sutra.



Hey! Whoa! Wait a minute. I didn't blow up any buildings. What do I have

to do with that? Looks like it was those weird malitia dudes. But not me.

I sure don't have anything to do with any of those wackos. And besides,

I'm a nonviolent person anyway.



But how many of us are truly nonviolent in the deepest sense, as

Patanjali surely meant it: nonviolent in tought and word as well as

deed? No doubt there are degrees of violence. Blowing up a building is

clearly of another order from shouting at the guy who cuts you off in

traffic, which is obviously different from keepng your mouth shut but

wanting to ram your car into his. Yet if we define violencw in this

broadest sense, although of different degrees, these are all acts of

violence. In that light, I think we'll have to admit that we are not

completely nonviolent people. I suspect such folk are few and far in between.

So, how are we to become nonviolent? How do we "do" nonviolence?

Well, it doesn't seem to me that we CAN do nonviolence; we can

ony BE nonviolent.

Alright then, how do we BE nonviolent?

I don't think it is by trying to not do violent acts or not say

violent words or not think violent thoughts, although each of these is

certainly worthwhile. No doubt we could whittle away alot of the

violence in our lives, in our culture, in the world by so doing. But I

don't think that approach will get to the root of violence. It would be

like pruning the leaves of a creeping vine but leaving the root

untouched. The leaves will eventually grow back.

The root of violence, it seems to me, lies in our inability to

experience our connectedness - to other peole, other creatures, our

environnment, the planet, the cosmos, the Great Spirit. We are much less

likely to do violence to those whom we truly hold in our hearts. I think

if we observe carefully, when we do harm even to those we love, we have,

at least for the moment and for whatever reason, put them out of our hearts.

I was listening to NPR the other day and heard an interview with

the writer, W. D. Snodgrass, about something he wrote called, as I

recollect, the Fuehrer's Bunker. I've treid to find it but have been

unable. I gathered from the discussion however, that it was written from

Hitler's perspective. Snodgrass, in his wonderfully gravelly voice, said

that he had received a tremendous amount of very angry mail.. One person

he recalled has asked how he could "glorify" someone as despicable as

Hitler. He said that he later heard from the same person who expressed

the same sentiment, except that the word "glorify" had been changed to

"humanize" Snodgrass said that that was the point. Hitler WAS human just

as we are humans.

I was reminded of a poem, Please Call Me by My True Names, by

Thich Nhat Hanh, the well-known Vietneamese Zen master. Because of space

considerations I reprint only part of it.



Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow

because even today I still arrive...

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,

in order to fear and to hope,

the rhythm of my heart is the birth and death

of all that are alive . . .

I am a frog swimming happily in the clear water of a pond,

and I am the grass-snake, who, approaching

in silence, feeds itself on the frog.

I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,

my legs as thin as bamboo sticks,

and I am the arms merchant selling deadly

weapons to Uganda

I am the twelve year old girl, refuggee on

a small boat,

who throws herself into the ocean

after being raped by a sea pirate,

and I am the pirate, my heart not yet

capable of seeing and loving . . .

Please call me by my true names,

So I can hear all my cries and laughs at once,

So I can see that my joy and pain are one.

Please call me by my true names

So I can wake up and so the door of my heart can be left open

The door of compassion.



When we deomonize others, try to make them something other than

human, other than us, in so doing we deny a part of ourselves, We not

only disconnect from them, we disconnect from parts of ourselves. We do

it with words lke "kooks" and "wackos", "thugs" and "fundamentalists",

"good guys" and "bad guys". We do it by closing our eyes and our hearts

to the pain and suffering of those near to us and not so near. We do it

because to be related is painful. But to be related is also to be

joyful. To feel unrelated, disconnected is a deeper pain: there is no joy

in it anywhere only a living death.

To try to turn another person or group of people into monsters or

demons is to demonize ourselves. To declare that they are not a part of

us is to try to cut off a part of ourselves. To put them out of our

hearts is to deaden another little piece of our own hearts. This is the

root of violence.

We are not unrelated. We are not separated. We are part of a

vast jigsaw puzzle made up of countless pieces of varying sizes, shapes

and colors. Yet in spite of those differences, by all being peices of

the same puzzle, we are connected.

When we say "Namaste" to you at the end of class, that's our way

of acknowledging and honoring that place where we are connected, unified,

where when you're in yours and I'm in mine and we're in the same place,

we are One. That's yoga. That's why to the question of violence, to

whatever the question . . . the answer is . . . more yoga.



Namaste

ancient yoga teachings hatha yoga learn important information

ancient yoga teachings hatha yoga learn important information, this short instruction is very important to learn and understand if you are partake of the discipline of yoga.


The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
of
SVATMARAMA

Raja Yoga

The Yoga of Light

Translation of the ancient Sanskrit
The Pradipika is divided into four parts. The first explains yamas (restraints on behavior), niyamus (observances), asanas (posture) and food. The second describes pranayama (control or restraint of energy), and the shatrurmas (internal cleansing practices). The third deals with mudras (seals), bandhas (locks), the nadis (channels of energy through which prana flows) and the kundalini power. The fourth expounds pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (absorption). In all, the text contains 390 verses (slokas). Out of these, about forty deal with asanas, approximately one hundred and ten with pranayama, one hundred and fifty with mudras, bandhas and Shatkarmas and the rest with pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi.

The following translation contains the text of the first of these four parts comprising the first 67 of these slokas which deal with the broad evolution of the whole human organism through asanas.

Asanas

The text begins with asanas as the first step in hatha yoga. For this reason it has been referred to as six-limbed yoga (sadanga yoga) as opposed to the eight-limbed patanjala yoga (astanga yoga) which includes, as its foundation, the first two limbs, yama and niyama. However, hatha yoga does not overlook the yamas and niyamas. Possibly, in Svatmarama's time, the ethical disciplines were taken for granted, so he does not explain them at length.
He does speak of non-violence, truthfulness, non-covetousness, continence, forbearance, fortitude, compassion, straightforwardness, moderation in food and cleanliness as yama, and zeal in yoga, contentment, faith, charity, worship of God, study of spiritual scriptures, modesty, discriminative power of mind, prayers and rituals as niyama. (The ethical disciplines of what to do and what not to do are given in the text. Asanas, pranayamas, bandhas, rnudras and shotkarmas are illustrated by examples to assist aspirants with their practice. Dharana, dhyana and samadhi cannot be explained, but only experienced, when the earlier stages have been mastered.)


1 Reverance to Siva the Lord of Yoga, who taught [his wife] Parvati
hatha wisdom as the first step to the pinnacle of Raja Yoga

2 Having thus solemnly saluted his master, Yogi Svatmarama
now presents hatha vidya [vidya = wisdom] solely and exclusively
for the attainment of raja yoga.


3. For those who wander in the darkness of conflicting creeds
[and philosophies], unable to reach the heights of raja yoga
[self knowledge and cosmic consciousness] the merciful Yogi
Svatmarama has lit the torch of hatha wisdom.

4-9. Goraksha and Matsyendra were masters of hathya vidya,
and by their grace Yogi Svatmaram learned it. Sive, Matsyendra,
Shabara, Anandabhairava, Chaurangi, and many other great Sidhhas
who have conquered time are still roaming thru this world.

10 [Therefore] hatha yoga is a refuge for all those who are scorched
by the three fires*. To those who practice yoga, hatha yoga
is like the tortoise that supports the world.


11 A yogi who is desirous of developing siddhis should keep hatha
yoga strictly secret, for only then will he have success.
All his efforts will be in vain if he reveals everything without
discrimination.


12 The student of hatha yoga should practice in a solitary place,
in a temple or hermitage, an arrow shot away from rocks, water,
and fire. The land should be fertile and well governed.

13 The hermitage should have a small door and no windows.
It should be level with the ground and have no holes in the walls.
[It should be] neither too high nor too long, and clean and free
from insects. It should be laid daily with cow dung. Outside there
should be a raised platform with an elevated seat and a water
tank. The whole should be surrounded by a wall. There are the
characteristics of a yoga hermitage as described by the siddhas,
the masters of hatha yoga.

14 Seated in such a place, the yogi should free his mind from all
distracting thoughts and practice yoga as instructed by his guru.

15 The yoga forces are dissipated by too much eating, heavy physical
labor, too much talk, the observances of [ascetic] vows, [promiscous]
company, and a growling stomach [too much fasting].

16 Success depends on a cheerful disposition, perserverance, courage,
self knowledge, unshakable faith in the word of the guru, and
the avoidance of all superflous company.

17a Not to cause suffering to any living being; to speak the truth;
not to take what belongs to others; to practice continence;
to develop compassion and fortitude; to be merciful to all and
honest; to be moderate in eating and pure in heart. These are
the first prerequisites of yoga [the yamas]. Self limitation,
[tapas, austerities], cheerfullness, religious faith, charity,
contemplation, listening to sacred scriptures, modesty, a clean mind,
recitation of mantras, and observance of rules, these are the second
requirements of yoga.

17b Asanas* are spoken of first, being the first stage of hatha
yoga. So one should practice the asanas, which give [the yogi]
strength, keep him in good health, and make his limbs subtle.

* Seated postures remembered in the genetic material of man.


18 I shall now proceed to impart some of the asanas that where adopted
by such wise men as Vasitha, and practised by yogis like
Matsyendra.

19 Sitting straight on level ground, squeeze both feet between calves
and thighs [of the opposite legs]. This is svastikasana.

20 Place the right foot under the left buttock and the left foot
under the right buttock. This is gomukhasana, and looks like the
mouth of a cow.

21 Place one foot upon the other thigh and the other foot below the
opposite thigh. This is virasana.

22 Press the anus firmly with crossed feet and sit thus. But do it
with care. This is kurmasana.

23 Assuming the lotus posture, insert the hands between the thighs
and calves. Put the hands firmly on the ground and raise the
body up. this is kukkutasana.

24 Assuming the above mentioned kukkutasana posture, put both arms
around your neck and remain raised like a tortoise [with the back
touching the ground]. This is uttana kurmasana.

25 Grasp both toes with the opposite hands, keep one leg straight
and draw the other to the ear as you would a bow. This is dhanurasana.

26 Place your right foot on the outside of the left hip joint and
the left foot outside the right knee [which is flat on the floor].
Grasp the left foot with the right hand [passing the arm to the left
side of the knee] and the right one with the left hand. Turn the
head all the way over to the left. This is matsyendrasana.

27 This matsyendrasana increases the appetite by fanning the gastric
fire and destroys physical ailments. Kundalini is awaked and
the moon made steady.

28 Stretch our both legs and, taking hold of the toes, lay your
head upon the knees. This is paccumasana.

29 This most excellent of all asanas causes the breath to flow
through the sushumna, fans the fire of appetite, makes the loins
supple and removes all ailments.


30 Press your hands firmly upon the ground and balance your body
by pressing the elbows against your loins. Raise your legs
straight in the air till your feet are level with your head.
This is mayurasana.


31 This asana heals various diseases of the spleen and dropsy,
and removes all illnesses caused by excess of vata, pitta, or kapha.
It digests an overabundance of food, and even destroys the poison
halahala.

32 Lying full length on the back like a corpse is called Savasana.
With this asana tiredness caused by other asanas is eliminated;
it also promotes calmness of mind.

33-34 The asanas taught by Siva* are 84 in number. Of these I
will describe four of the most important ones. They are
siddhasana, padmasana, simhasana, and bhadrasana. Of these,
siddhasana is the best and most comfortable posture.


35 Press one heel into the place below the sex organs and
put the other heel over your pubic bone. Press the chin
upon the chest, sit up straight, with controlled organs,
and fasten the eyes between the eyebrows. This is siddhasana,
where by all obstacles on the path to perfection are
removed.


36 Place the right heel above the sex organ and the left heel
over the right. This too is siddhasana.


37 Some call this siddhasana; others say it is vajrasana, or muktasana,
or guptasana.

38 The Siddhas say; Just as among the yamas the most important is to
do no harm to anyone, and that among the niyamas moderation, so is
siddhasana the cheif of all asanas.

40 The yogi who meditates on the atman and eats moderately acheives
the yoga siddhas after he has practiced siddhasana for 12 years.


41 If siddhasana is perfected and the breath is carefully restrained in
kevala khumbhaka*, what need for all the other asanas?

* The practice of folding the tongue back so it closes of the breath
canal.

42 When siddhasana is accomplished, we can enjoy the ecstasy of the
meditative state (unmani avastha*), the moon and the three bandhas
follow without effort naturally.

* Samadhi, the state of being entirely absorbed into the pure state of
no-mind. The three bandhas are three major emotional blockage points.
The moon is the source of illusion. It is lighted by the sun, the real
centre of the being.

43 There is no asana like siddhasana, no kumbhaka like kevala, no mudra
like khecari, and no laya equals nada [anahat nada].

44 Place the right heel upon the base of the left thigh and the left
upon the right thigh. Cross the arms behind the back and grasp the
toes, the right ones with the right hand and the left with the left.
Press the chin on the breast* and look at the tip of your nose. This
is called padmasana and cures all diseases.

* there should be a space of four inches between breast and chin.

45-47 Place your feet firmly on the opposite thighs and place
your hands firmly in the middle, one upon the other [in your
lap], fasten your eyes on the tip of the nose and touch the back
of the upper teeth with your tongue. Press the chin on the chest
and raise the air [apana vayu] slowly up while contracting the
anus muscle. This is padmasana that destroys all diseases. [But]
this can be acheived by only a few very intelligent persons.

48 Having assumed the padmasana posture, with the hands one upon
the other, and the chin firmly pressed upon the chest, meditate
on Brahma, frequently contracting the anus muscle to raise apana.
Similiarly, by contracting the throat, force prana down. Thus
with the aid of kundalini [which is aroused by this practice]
we acheive highest knowledge.

49 When the yogi remains in padmasana and thus retains the breath
drawn in through the nadi gates [nostrils] he reaches liberation.
There is no doubt about it.

50 Place your ankles in the region of the sex organs [between anus
and scrotum]: the right ankle to the right and the left to the
left side.

51 Place the palms upon the knees with fingers spread out and
eyes upon the tip of the nose [and breathe] with open mouth
and concentrated mind.

52 This is simhasana, held in great esteem by the highest yogis.
This asana facilitates the three bandhas.

53-55 Place the ankles under the buttocks, right below right,
left below left. Then wind your hands around the thighs. This is
bhadrasana and cures all diseases. The siddhas and yogis call it
gorakshasana. The yogi should practice this until he feels no more
pain or tiredness.

56 Then he should cleanse the nadis by practicining pranayama,
as well as mudras and kumbhakas of various kinds.


57 Then follows the concentration on the inner sound [nada].
The Brahmacharin* who, observing moderate diet, renouncing
the fruits of his (good) actions, practices [hath] yoga
will become a siddha in the span of one year.

* one who practices complete celibacy.
Economy of forces, not repression of nature.

58 Moderate diet means pleasant, sweet food, leaving free
one fourth of the stomach. The act of eating is dedicated
to Siva.

59-61 The following are considered as not being salutory: sour,
pungent, and hot food;mustard, alcohol, fish, meat, curds, butter-
milk, chick peas, fruit of the jujub, linseed cakes, asafetida,
and garlic. It is also advisable to avoid: reheated food,
an excess of salt or acid, foods that are hard to digest or
are woody. Goraksha teaches that in the beginning the yogi
should avoid bad company, proximity to fire, sexual relations,
long trips, cold baths in the early morning, fasting, and heavy
physical work.

62 The following items can be used without hesitation: wheat
products [bread etc.] rice, milk, fats, rock candy, honey, dried
ginger, cucumbers, vegetables, and fresh water.

63 The yogi should eat nourishing, sweet foods mixed with milk.
They should benefit the senses and stimulate the functions.

64 Anyone who actively practices yoga, be he young, old, or
even very old, sickly and weak, can become a siddha.

65 Anyone who practices can acquire siddhis, but not he who
is lazy. Yoga siddhis are not obtained by merely reading
textbooks.

66 Nor are they reached by wearing yoga garments or by conversation
about yoga, but only through tireless practice. This is the
secret of success. There is no doubt about it.

67 The various asanas, kumbhakas, and mudras of hatha yoga
should be practiced as long as raja yoga has not been
attained.

hindu indian yoga cultural events year 2000 look back america

hindu indian yoga cultural events year 2000 look back america, not sure if any of these events still run though.

NORTH AMERICAN CALENDAR

Canada

Deadline: Submission for Desh Pardesh Intra National Festival/Conference is an exploration of new and challenging issues faced by South Asian artists and activists both locally and internationally. Desh Pardesh, 401 Richmond St W Ste 450, Toronto. Feb 5. (416) 340-0485.

Transmission Meditation Also on Tuesdays and Fridays. Edmonton Venue to be announced. Feb 7, Sundays, 7 p.m. Free. (403) 433-3342, (403) 426-6103, (403) 433-1064.

Northeast

Jesuits and the Grand Mogul Renaissance Art at the Imperial Court of India, an exhibition of 22 paintings, engravings, manuscripts and sculptures in ivory, crystal and stone. Arthur Sackler Glry Smithsonian Institution, 1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington. Feb 1-Apr 4. (202) 357-4880.

Behind the Himalayas Paintings of Mustang, an axhibition of 19 watercolors documenting the stunning traditional architecture of the Himalayan region. This high, wind-swept desert is politically part of the kingdom of Nepal, but geographically and culturally part of Tibet. Sackler Gllry Smithsonian Institution, 1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington. Feb 1-Sep 26, 7 p.m. (202) 357-3200.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Olsson's Books, 1200 F Street NW, Washington. Feb 2, 7 p.m.

Thyagaraja Aradhana Day with music recitals by adults and children. Main vocal concert by Rajeswari satish at 4pm. Organized by North Jersey Music Lovers. Community Church, 354 Rock Rd, Glen Rock. Feb 6, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. (201) 666-6811.

The Early Masters rare paintings of the Bengal Renaissance.The Bengal School of painting was a visceral reaction to the artistic corollary of British imperialism in India known as Company School painting. In this school of painting, generations of Indian artists and craftsmen were subjected to indentured servitude by being forced to illustrate the occupation and oppession of their motherland by the British East India Company. It is only as a response to the Company School painting that the art of the Bengal renaissance can be correctly interpreted. Bose Pacia Modern, 580 Broadway #202, SoHo. Feb 6-Mar 27, 6 p.m. (212) 966-3224.

Bharata Natyam Dance by Lakshmi daughter and disciple of the legendary T. Balasaraswati, she carries on the family's artistic traditions. She is one of the few artists today who can perform bharata natyam, as it was structured and codified at the Tanjavur Court in the early 19th century. Her dance is celebrated for the beauty of its abstract movements and the rhythmic complexity of its footwork, and its elaborate mime. lakshmi is accompanied by T. Viswanathan (flute), S. Vidya (vocal, dance conductor), Aniruddha Knight (dance) and Douglas Knight (mridangam). Organized by World Music Institute. Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway & 95th St, New York. Feb 6, 8 p.m. (212) 545-7536.

Sister of My Heart a book reading by author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni from her latest novel. Organized by AAWW. Asian American Writers' Wkshp, 37 Saint Marks Pl #B, New York. Feb 11, 7 p.m. $5. (212) 228-6718.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Barnes & Noble, 675 Sixth Ave, New York. Feb 12, 7:30 p.m.

Readings by Vikram Chandra, Vikas Menon, Prageeta Sharma Fresh Ink series continues with Vikram Chandra (Love and Longing in Bombay, Red Earth and Pouring Rain) reads with Prageeta Sharma (Bliss to Fill) and Vikas Menon (contributor, TriQuarterly '98 and Brooklyn Review 13). Organized by AAWW. Asian American Writers' Wkshp, 37 Saint Marks Pl #B, New York. Feb 26, 7 p.m. $5. (212) 228-6718.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St, Boston. Mar 10, 7 p.m.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Borders Books, 1727 Walnut St, Philadelphia. Mar 11, 7:30 p.m.

Midwest

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Borders Books, 612 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor. Feb 3, 7 p.m. (212) 782-9787.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Prairie Lights Books, 15 S Dubuque St, Iowa City. Feb 4, 7 p.m. (319) 337-2681.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Canterbury Books, 315 W Gorham, Madison. Feb 5, 7 p.m.

Ajax a gripping production of Sophocles, adapted by Luu Pham and Meena Natarajan. Power, pride, human failings, war, politics - the tragic downfall of a great leader. Pangea's diverse ensemble sculpts a human tragedy of virtue and vice out of a story that could be right of today's headlines. Directed by Dipankar Mukherjee. Organized by Pangea World Theater. Dance Alliance Studio, 528 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis. Feb 5-21, 7:30 p.m. (612) 335-3200.

South

Transmission Meditation Friends House, 3012 Washington Square, Austin. Feb 3, Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (512) 912-5719.

Mountain

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Tattered Cover, 1628 16th St, Denver. Mar 2, 7:30 p.m.

Pacific

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Elliot Bay Books, 101 South Main St, Seattle. Mar 3, 8 p.m.

Reading by Chitra Divakaruni best selling author reads from her latest novel "Sister of My Heart.". Powell's, 1005 W Burnside, Portland. Mar 4, 7:30 p.m.

Northern California

Hindustani Music Concert Features Naim Khan (Patiala gayaki) accompanied by Asif Mahmood (tabla). Indian music afficianados here may not know that there has always been interest and patronage of Hindustani classical music in Afghanistan. Leading musicians from India used to perform regularly in Afghanistan. Dislocation caused by war and political upheaval has taken a toll on the practice of Hindustani classical music in Afghanistan. Naim Khan is one of the few remaining practitioners of classical music from Afghanistan. He has been a disciple of two of the most prominent names in Patiala gayaki - the late Mohammad Hussain Sarhang who was a leading vocalist from Afghanistan and Fateh Ali Khan from Pakistan. Asif Mahmood belongs to the Punjab gharana of tabla players. He learnt from his brother Hashim Khan who was a student of the famous Kader Baksh. This is chance to experience Hindustani music from a different perspective. Organized by Basant Bahar. Hindu Temple & Cultural Center, 3676 Delaware Dr, Fremont. Feb 6, 6 p.m. $15 general, $10 students, members free. (510) 651-6386, (650) 494-0588.

is gnosis or the gnostic's a new age religion or involved in new age teachings?

i have read a bit from the gnostic samael aun weor over the years and he was inspired by the gnostic's and believed in spreading the beliefs of gnosis, but was he part of the new age movement as well, and trying to spread new age beliefs?, as there seems to be conflict between new ager's and gnostic's sometimes, where gnostic's say new agers are not fully understanding the occult discipline or something properly, and do not take things as seriously as the gnostic's do.

here in this quote samael aun weor says that fakirs are deviated and not gnostic enough, that the fakirs gain powers but not gnostic powers.

"Oriental fakirs fight in a frightful way within themselves in order to develop the force of willpower. The entire fakir's path consists of multiple, incredible, and difficult physical practices.

Any fakir is very capable of adopting any difficult physical position while keeping his body steady for hours, months, and even years; or he can sit under a tree on top of an anthill or under the scorching rays of the tropical sun.

Any fakir is very capable of sitting on a bare stone under the sun with his arms opened in the form of a cross, or amongst thorns and caltrops for entire months or years.

Indeed, fakirs develop the force of willpower in a severe way by means of all of these physical tortures. Nevertheless, they do not achieve the creation of the Body of Conscious Will (Causal Body) because this is a one hundred percent sexual problem.

Many places exist where people are submitted to tremendous tortures in order to acquire conscious will, but really they only store some energy.

The fakirs acquire many powers but nothing else. Some of them raise an arm and they do not lower it ever again. The arm becomes withered. They pursue willpower with such actions, but their willpower does not pass beyond such action. They do not achieve the building of the body of Conscious Will. All of this miraculous stuff deviates people; therefore, the fakirs are deviated."

witches of the white house? is witchcraft in usa politics? rosie o'donnell

witches of the white house? is witchcraft in usa politics? rosie o'donnell, there was the whole rosie o'donnell thing but that does not mean there is witchcraft in the white house or usa politics either, but with all areas in life there will be a bit of witchcraft going on in the white house, but they should be working for the good of the american people and not against it.

new age religion in the white house 2011?

new age religion in the white house 2011?, there are rumours that the white house is hub of new age religion and all mystical goings on, this is probably true to some aspect, but also understandable with the way this world is and all the way governments of old worlds had magical leaders.

both the democrats and republics parties have new agers in them.

he man movie new age religion bibles 2011 2012 comics and cartoons

well i was looking for a new age religion type bible but funnily found what is called the "masters of the universe bible" based on the he man cartoon, so what you might think, well the funny thing is when reading this bible, it is interesting all the new age concepts and words that are used.

this "masters of the universe bible" could be a kind of new age bible in some ways, its interesting as well as where as children we got all out fantastical ideas from that are new age like about magical ideas and magic and special even the possibilities of having super human powers and abilities.

in these cartoons like he man and she ra from the masters of the universe it was all about the magical powers he man and she ra would get from there respective swords of power, in the occult the sword like the famous excaliber or excalibur are symbolic from what i have gathered as the kundalini force that runs up the spine, and is used for magical powders and good health as well as spiritual healing.

excalibur



so that was the basis of the he man and she ra series all based around there magical swords as well as the same with the thundercats cartoon series as well, with the main character lion o and his magic sword of omens.

she ra



as you can see in the picture above she ra is drawing her magical sword, which then gives her super human powers or magic and strength.

but more so as well is all the talk of magic and sorcerers in the he man series with both he man and she ra having there own magicians working magical spells for them, so this cartoon on closer inspections is very new age religion or even old world religion magic type with all the swords and sorcery, also new technologies like flying ships that resemble flying saucers and fancy gadgets and new technology, for a 80's cartoon it is quite up to date.

another thing with these old cartoons like he man is all the use of palm reader or mobile phone type devices, that at the time in the 80's where not even able to be bought but, in these futuristic cartoons there does seem to be iphone type mobile phone devices pop up, which the cartoon characters use to communicate over vast distances.

which is quirky considering these devices can seem similar to modern technology like the iphone mobile phone.

iphone



this might seem like a grasp at straws to find a new age connection, but it is not so far fetched considering the use of fancy gadgets and new technology nowadays and the emergence of new age teachings and 2012 hype to go a long with it, as the saying goes have you got a application for that!?.

well here is the masters of the universe bible, and just even if you glance over it you can see all the new age and old magical terms like, spirit, magic, portals, star, power, diversity, good and evil, trolls, mystic mountains, council of elders.

and so on and on, very new agey really quite a god read bit like a fantasy story really to read, i think this masters of the universe bible is the basic building blocks for the he man series, makes a good fantasy read, with all the magic type new age stuff in there.

and just reading and there is a new he man and the masters of the universe movie due for 2010 or 2011, which came as a bit of a surprise i liked the original he man movie with dolph lundgren, this video of dolph in the he man and masters of the universe original film is really good.



a lot of people say the original he man movie was not very good but they will have to go some to get an actor that can pull off the he man look like dolph lundgren did, dolph was tall and muscular but also powerful looking, so fitted the roll of he man perfectly, even if the movie got a lot of bad reviews.

he man and the masters of the universe dolph lundgren




"The Masters of the Universe Bible

Written by Michael Halperin
December 1, 1982

Beyond the Farthest galaxies viewed by the greatest telescopes on Earth. Beyond the limits of our universe lies another place -- a place of magic, myth, sorcery and science. Through the cosmic clouds spins a solar system with a Type Three star twinkling the ether of interstellar space. About the star rotate worlds inconceivable to mere mortal minds. They are populated by demons and demigods, sorcerers and sybils, men and women imbued with the powers of good and evil.

One of these planets orbiting the star shines blue-green with a mantle of clear air and fleecy clouds surrounding. A globe of everlasting beauty and great diversity, this world, ETERNIA, represents a microcosm of all the universe's inhabited planets.

Two great land masses balance the globe. The western hemisphere roughly approximates an hour glass. The Southern part of the continent blooms year round supplying all Eternia's citizens with sustenance. The great palace of Eternia rises from the fertile southern plains and has been the home of the reigning monarchs for untold generations. Gently sloping up there rises the EVERGREEN FOREST - a vast, mostly unexplored country of towering trees, giant ferns and lush undergrowth teaming with game animals as well as some unwholesome creatures.

Winged dragons called WYVERNS perch among the trees and DRACOS, fierce dragon-like beasts slither through the underbrush in order to catch unwary travelers. The Evergreen Forest shields the most mysterious secret on all Eternia, a secret which eventually must be divulged if the planet will survive.

The VINE JUNGLE rises steamily on the equatorial belt. Within its green and humid confines swamps bubble and strange, malformed animals and plant life live -- some of which are one and the same. Eternians rarely step foot in the Vine Jungle and when they do there's always the possibility they'll never be seen again. The jungle slowly gives way to a stark low veldt as it moves steadily toward temperate and colder climes.

The ICE MOUNTAINS tower over the northern part of the western continent. Immense and foreboding peaks shrouded throughout most of the year by snow-laden clouds glower over the landscape. Within their fastness dwell DWARVES, TROLLS and GNOLLS. The dwarves, a sturdy and industrious race, live far longer than ordinary humans. Generally friendly and outgoing, they enjoy carousing and decorate their clothes with bright pieces of cloth and metal.

On the other hand, carnivorous trolls attack anything in their path with clawed hands and feet, but fear the dwarves' weapons and magic. The intelligent, but evil gnolls live in the old, used up dwarf mines. They bear wolf-like features and sport armor and weapons although they tend to be lazy and try to avoid a fight whenever possible.

The eastern hemisphere represents a contrast to the western half of the planet. The PLAIN OF PERPETUA makes up almost fifty percent of the northern half of the continent. This trackless, grassy lowland hides a bewildering maze of caverns beneath its presumed undisturbed surface. Within these rocky, encrusted and stalagtited caves walk races of monsters sealed beneath the earth thousands of years before by great volcanic eruptions. ORCS, BASILISKS and GIANT CENTIPEDES travel the rocky bastion beneath the plain. Sorcery abounds here awaiting the Knowing hands of a conjurer to cast a spell, placing the innocent wayfarer into a state of hibernation or suspended animation among the grasses and low bushes.

South of the Plain of Perpetua, the SANDS OF TIME spreads its desert tentacles for hundreds of miles. Once, in the dim history of Eternia, the desert bloomed like a vast garden.

A civilization of craftsmen labored here building monuments to themselves. Only ruins remain for the occasional visitor to wonder about. However, they who traverse the waterless expanse must be careful for great windstorms whip up unexpectedly among the monuments and whirlwinds create time vortices sucking people back into the distant past from which no one has ever returned.

The MYSTIC MOUNTAINS make up the southern edge of the eastern continent. Wreathed in mystery, OGRES, WRAITHS and MANTICORES find haven beneath the granite peaks. The valleys of the Mystic Mountains with their deep, slippery sides hold great reptiles and dragons prisoner. And it's fortunate for they'd rampage the planet if not held within that stone fortress.

The North and South Poles both have great snowy masses where life is hard, but not difficult for the families of SNOW DWARVES and the great ICE HACKER, a bear-like creature with cunning intelligence.

Oceans make up the balance of Eternia. The HARMONY SEA lives up to its name as a peaceful expanse traversed by gentle trade winds. The royal ships of the king often sail from the safe harbor toward the eastern hemisphere in order to trade with the inhabitants on the other side of the globe. As in life, however, not all is consistent. The BERSERK ISLANDS poke their fiery mountain tops through the waters of the Harmony Sea. These last remnants of the great volcanoes which once dotted the whole planet still belch fire and smoke.

The OCEAN OF GNARL runs rough and white-capped throughout the year bringing storms and chill to the land. For all it's ferocity, Gnarl provides life for the rain and snow it generates keep the soil fertile and the crops growing. The GOLDEN ISLES rest like a peaceful, permanent eye of the storm within the ocean. They're a favorite vacation spot of Eternia's royal family.

Royalty had not always reigned on the planet. Eons before, an incredibly advanced civilization ruled Eternia. They had evolved through centuries of barbarism, enlightenment, scientific technology, and Philosophy and drawn out all the secrets of the universe in order to work wondrous deeds. Was it magic or sorcery or wizardry, or the power of mind over matter which could change images, create objects where none existed and martial the total resources of nature? All the greatest Eternian minds worked toward one principal goal -- that of peace and goodness. Their achievements provided Eternia with tranquility and harmony.

The hub of Eternia and the repository of all knowledge rested with the great COUNCIL OF ELDERS who dwelt within the HALL OF WISDOM, a magnificent edifice which shone with the light of a million stars. Made of Eternian stone and rare metals, it gleamed like a beacon of hope to all the world -- a beckoning light of wisdom for all to see.

The people of Eternia walked the glowing halls and saw the wondrous machines -- computers of incredible sophistication which held the combined intelligence of the Eternian centuries -- SPACE PORTALS permitted Eternians to travel through space in the blink of an eye -- TIME CORRIDORS carrying them through time at will.

All of this melded with the force of good. On Eternia no one envied anyone else; everyone lived in communion with each other. Even the animals lived in peace. However, the Council of Elders had cognizance of evil. They knew it existed somewhere in the void of space beyond their sight and could be casting a jealous eye upon Eternia. Within moderation, Eternia's scientists developed sophisticated defense weapons in the event the unthinkable should occur. (They hid these weapon within the Hall of Wisdom for the day they might be needed.

While Eternia rolled peacefully through the heavens drama played itself out on another world within the same solar system. Unknown and unseen by Eternia, its orbit is precisely the same and always lies directly opposite perpetually shielded by Eternia's sun.

Not only is the planet physically opposite Eternia, its people and their purpose are diametrically opposed as well. This planet, INFINITA, holds the sum total of all the universe's evil. Always at war, it's foreboding, dark have been held in check only by their own fiendishness. Their powers built war machines of incredible destructiveness. Infinita's charred surface bears mute testament to the constant battle of one vile force with another. The planet slowly sank back to a barbaric age, yet they maintained modern weapons of extermination. Lasers, quasers and photon guns wreaked devastation alongside spears, swords and axes.

And where, on Eternia, sorcery and science accomplished all the good things in life; Infinita's black magic and alchemy destroyed and ruined life. One day, two of the greatest opposing forces faced each other across the Dunes of Doom -- made black and unwholesome by the constant battles waged by the dark powers. Both sides believed they could win the war - the final armageddon, for they were the only ones left on Infinita. Both sides held in their hands the ultimate weapon of desolation to be thrust at the enemy before the foe retaliated.

Both sides guessed wrong. The triggers snapped at exactly the same moment and seconds later a cataclysmic explosion tore through the planet leaving in its wake poisonous gas, flaming mountains a race of people whose mutated genes determined their future. The explosion created one other phenomena -- a Space Portal leading directly to Eternia.

Several of the most horrendous leaders of Infinita hurtled through the portal and when they found themselves in the midst of a lush, fertile, peaceful land they swore it would be conquered.

Slyly and slowly they infiltrated Eternia's society until the day when they attempted to mount an invasion. Their troops rode through the Space Portal and all the weapons within the Hall of Wisdom came to the fore. After many long battles Eternia drove back the Infinitans and they sealed the Space Portal. But the Elders knew they couldn't keep evil from the planet any longer.

ZODAC, the wise leader of the Council of Elders, called to the stars for advice. In a shimmering, gleaming beam a figure appeared out of the cosmos -- the figure of an elegant and beautiful woman adorned in snake shaped armor and bearing a twisted snake-headed staff.

For centuries Eternia dwelt without fear, the SORCERESS told them, and now the time of testing fell upon the planet. For too long the Council had made all decisions; Their people had lost the ability to think for themselves. The time had arrived to cut the umbilical cord and permit Eternia the right to exist on its own.

The Council listened to the vision which promised them that if ever the forces of evil should try overcoming Eternia a champion would arise to defend the planet. A champion not seen in all the universe. A being so powerful and filled with good that evil, no matter how mighty, could not stand against him. However, with all the champion's virtue he needed one more element to make him the ultimate ruler of the Universe -- he required the collective wisdom of the Elders. And that he would not have until he proved himself against the dark forces.

There Lay the danger. For if the evil powers discovered the secret -- this key to destiny -- they might destroy all that's harmonious in Eternia. Once that occurred light would go out all over the planet and it could end with the same fate as Infinita.

Zodac gathered the Council of Elders in the Hall of Wisdom and collectively they concentrated their mind force until the sheer power of their consciousness created a mighty force field. At that moment, an implosion cracked through the corridors of the Hall and the Council disappeared in a blinding flash of energy. Only Zodac retained his human form as one of the Eternia's guardians. In the Council's place existed a mass of light at once denser than the densest material in the universe and as light as a ghost. It rose to the topmost parapet of the Hall of Wisdom where the Spirit of the Council looked to the far horizon -- past the Evergreen Forest; beyond the Vine Jungle; above and through the Ice Mountains to the sealed Space Portal. It knew that one day an Infinitan would discover how to break the spell. That evil person would search the magnificent Hall of Wisdom. The Spirit, along with Zodac determined that it would not be found -- at least not in its present state.

A great aura of energy burst forth from the mass of light which had been the Council of Elders. It surrounded the Hall of Wisdom and an astonishing shuddering and shimmering arose as the very air around the Hall glowed with a cosmic light. Anyone witnessing the experience would have seen in incredible sight - almost mirage-like, the Hall's very atomic structure shifted; the molecules seemed to run wild as the building changed form.

The wisdom of that which once was the Council understood that the demons of Infinita would look for the magnificent edifice embodying all that it wise and good. But if they saw a dark and forbidding place they might go aside. The wisdom of the Council planned to hide the once beautiful hall behind the rocks, trees and overgrowth of the Evergreen Forest.

When the atoms and molecules slowed the Hall of Wisdom ceased to exist. In its place stood the dark, green, crenelated fortress of CASTLE GRAYSKULL. Its craggy towers and black windows looked out upon Eternia. The most striking feature of the castle was the entrance. The portal had the face of a skull. The skull's lower jaw created a jawbridge and anyone wishing to enter had to have immense courage. Behind these walls and within the corridors of Grayskull dwelt the wisdom transformed into the Spirit of Grayskull. The Sorceress remained guarding the castle against all intruders. Zodac would sail the universe,

keeping watch over Eternia, keeping watch over Eternia, keeping vigilance over those who believed in virtue and wisdom, but not interfering with the natural course of events. Thus did Castle Grayskull slowly subside out of sight and the minds of all Eternians except as myth and legend.

Some of the devices created by the old science and magic remained and these were used for transportation and hunting. Only one family had the secret of invention handed down from generation to generation. They were warned to use the knowledge

judiciously until it was needed in defense of Eternia. Each generation had its own MAN-AT-ARMS skilled in the practical and mystical arts of forge and machine -- able to create devices of war as well as those of peace. They also knew the art of creating machines able to distinguish between strangers and their rightful owner.

So the centuries passed and Eternia slipped quickly backward to the point where men and women had to work with their backs -- pitted against nature. Every now and then some remnant of sorcery would appear in the guise of a child who still had the power of mind over matter. Fear fast put a stop to the child's actions and without exercise, the power disappeared.

Eternia's society, once egalitarian and ruled by a by a wise council, yearned for a leader, someone to guide them through the troubled times -- back to the halcyon days remembered only in songs and stories sung and told by bards and minstrels. Thus a king selected by the people from among the wisest on the planet was chosen to rule. His family reigned for hundreds of years providing leadership, wisdom, gallantry, and chivalry.

In another universe an event took place which had become almost prosaic. A space shuttle was about to be launched from the third planet of a minor solar system on the edge of an insignificant galaxy called the Milky Way. The shuttle pilot, MARLENA GLENN, young attractive and a brilliant scientist, donned her space suit, climbed into the pilot seat and waited for her three crewmates to belt in.

The three others loitered in the ready room until the very last minute. EVELYN POWERS, brilliant chemist, physicist and biologist, was insanely jealous of Marlena. Evelyn knew she should have been named pilot for the mission and cried within her heart an almost fanatical hatred for the person sitting at the shuttle's controls. Chief Technician BIFF BEASTMAN, resented the whole shuttle program because it relegated him to the status of "gofer". Had he known his role in the project he would have returned to his small farm where at least he could rule despotically power the animals. Noted scientist DR. T.E.SCOPE, inventor of numerous optic devices rounded out the crew. After many attempts to get aboard a shuttle, his application finally had been accepted. He knew they despised him for his brain and he swore that one day he would get even with all those little people who tried to deny him fame and fortune. The voice of space control rang out calling for them to board the ship.

Many changes had taken place since the early shuttle flights leaped into space piggy-backed to three enormous solid fuel rockets. Now the shuttle taxied down a runway using ordinary jet engines. Once it reached the edge of the stratosphere its own boosters cut in flinging the craft into sislunar space where its ion-drive engines took over for the almost speed-of-light trip to the other planets.

As the shuttle rumbled down the runway, the crew and support team could not have known or foreseen coming events. The cataclysmic explosion on Infinita had been traveling through the void of space for a thousand years and now it approached the edge of another universe just as the space shuttle's ion engines hummed to life. The craft aimed its nose at Europa, one of Jupiter's asteroids.

The flight was uncomplicated and ordinary save for the tension between the crew. With the ion-engines forcing the shuttle to move to the limit of endurable speed, Europa came within view in only a few days. Marlena placed the craft in orbit around the asteroid and the crew plotted the landing pattern.

Suddenly the shock wave from Infinita tore away at the very fabric of their universe. The space craft spun out of its orbit and the crew slammed against the bulkheads like so many ping-pong balls inside a bottle. The ship cartwheeled toward a rip in space and fell through the interspace voice only to reappear in the sky above Eternia.

Marlena staggered to her feet and lurched to the captains chair. She called out to the others. No one answered and when she looked only the spacesuits remained mute, empty and wrinkled. Little time remained to brood as the shuttle shot into the Eternian Ionsphere glowing red, yellow and white. She nosed the craft up and bounced off the layer of air slowing the vehicle for a smoother re-entry. Marlena couldn't spot any runways for the shuttle so she aimed the ship at the only clear spot she saw -- a long meadow in a lush, green valley. The space craft hit the ground, its landing gear crumpled on impact and it sank to its belly skidding, pitching and crashing to a wrenching stop.

Unconscious, Marlena couldn't know the helping hands pulling her out of the wreckage and carrying her to the royal palace of the reigning king of Eternia, the young and handsome RANDOR.

For several days she slept in the palace and each day Randor sat by her bedside and waited for her to wake. All the royal physicians and wizards provided potions and spells in order to insure her well-being and soon color stirred in Marlena's cheeks. On the seventh day her eyes fluttered open and the first sight she saw was Randor's rugged, handsome face. A spark flew between them as he reached out his fingers to touch her hand and they both smiled.

Meanwhile, the other members of the crew found themselves on the charred, misshapen surface of Infinita. The evil power of the planet seeped into their bones causing their true personalities to emerge even as they lay there. Within minutes their physical forms began to change -- more in keeping with the rulers and slaves of Infinita.

Evelyn Powers' jealousy helped transform her knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology into sorcery for every evil purpose as she became the sorceress EVIL-LYN. Biff Beastman's cruel nature spilled on the outside and he became a true BEAST MAN with a lion's mane, fangs and the power to communicate and command bloodthirsty creatures such as dragons, gorgons, ogres and snakes. Dr. T.E.Scope transformation changed that small, mean man into a brute with three eyes called TRI-KLOPS, a man with three eyes who could see, not only during the day, but in the dark and around corners with his Gammavision. A new vitality soared through their veins as they woke their new bodies to the horrid laughter of Infinita's remaining ruler -- the evil, megalomaniacal, power-mad monster, SKELETOR.

Beneath his hood eyes peered at them from the dark sockets of his skull face and his voice rang hollowly from the recesses of his bony jaws. In his hand he grasped the black, ram-headed HAVOC STAFF. He knew they were the minions he needed to break the Space Portal seal so he could invade and conquer Eternia. On the other hand Evil-Lyn, Beast Man and Tri-Klops recognized Skeletor as their device for wreaking vengeance throughout the universe.

Skeletor led them to his lair beneath the twin peaks of SNAKE MOUNTAIN. Around one of the crags twisted a terrible carved snake. A portal along the snake's back until it reached the fanged mouth. Entrance here entrapped the incautious stranger for once a person stepped into the snake's jaws they snapped shut thrusting the trespasser into almost inescapable dungeon.

A footbridge connected one mountain with the other where a blood red waterfall cascaded over crags, past blasted trees and murky swamps. Skeletor's chamber hid behind BLOOD FALLS and only he knew its entrance, its traps and snares. The lair itself was a dark cavern dripping with venom. In one corner, its eyes blazing red, its tail twitching, sat Skeletor's pet and charger, the giant cat PANTHOR. Its purple fur glistened as its muscles rippled when it stretched out iron claws from the mighty paws.

Skeletor waved his staff and a charge of energy sprang forth rolling back a huge boulder from one wall uncovering a screen. A wave of his hand and a picture swam into view -- a picture of Eternia then that of King Randor and Marlena. At the sight of the former captain, the trio snarled and clenched their fists - and it wasn't lost on Skeletor.

"I see you feel as I do. You'd like to invade Eternia and conquer it. My reasons are simple enough. Infinita can no longer sustain life. We need Eternia's air and food and I intend to take it by force. If you are with me we can accomplish our aim. But before we do we must break through the Space Portal sealed centuries ago against my ancestors. Once that's done we'll wipe out that simpering Eternian goodness and our dark powers will reign over all Eternia -- over all the universe."

King Randor made Marlena his queen and three years later she bore an heir to the throne of Eternia -- a son, PRINCE ADAM. He was handsome and imbued with his mother's spirit of adventure and his father's courage. As a child he had the run of the palace playing tricks and practical joke on his teachers and the nobles of the court.

At the moment Prince Adam was born, MAN-AT-ARMS, the heir to the secrets of weaponry and invention, strode through the Evergreen Forest searching for rare herbs which he used as the base for a special sword-tempering oil when he heard a rushing and flapping sound over his head. A shadow crossed the mighty warrior and protector of the palace. He looked up he saw an immense falcon circling overhead. Man-At-Arms crouched behind a tree and waited until the colossal bird settled on a nearby crag. The falcon opened its curved beak and seemed to call out. Then the warrior heard another voice -- as if speaking within his mind.

"Man-At-Arms," it cried softly, "come to ZOAR, THE FALCON."

The soldier hefted his battleaxe in one hand and unlocked the holster which held his laser gun as he slowly walked toward the mighty falcon.

"There's no need for weapons. Look into Zoar blinked and stared at Man-At-Arms. There, within the black pupils of the bird's eyes he saw the Sorceress' image -- the keeper of Castle Grayskull -- as she spoke to him.

He had been chosen for a very special mission because his family kept faith with Eternia. When Zoar left the crag he would discover a nest among the rocks and inside that nest would be a child, a girl, who was the Sorceress' daughter. Man-At-Arms was to take the baby and raise her as his very own.

"Train her alongside Prince Adam, brave warrior, as if she were your son. Train them both in the martial arts, in the use of weapons both old and new. Don't spare her because she's a girl. One day she'll need all the skills you give her. One more request I make of you. Never reveal the identity of her mother. That is something she must find for herself.

Awestruck, Man-At-Arms stood flatfooted and flabber-gasted. "Sorceress, what will I call her? What's the child's name?"

"Teela!" said the Sorceress. "Teela!" she said again as Zoar spread its expansive wings and flew off. Overwhelmed, Man-At-Arms, who had seen and heard many unusual and magical things in his life, stood silent staring at the disappearing shape of the titanic falcon. A cry rose from the rocks and the soldier clambered up to find the baby girl just as he'd been told.

Prince Adam and Teela grew up together under the tutelage of Man-At-Arms. His laboratory was their playground. They romped and fought among the bewildering and astounding inventions whose secrets has been handed down over the generations. Man-At-Arms created weapons and vehicles of wondrous sophistication. Some of his vehicles rolled along the ground at high speed, but weren't ready for use until he proved they worked properly. Prince Adam often got into trouble by trying out weapons and ground sleds before he knew how to use them. Many a bruise was dealt him in crashes and crackups causing Teela to look upon him as something of a scatterbrain. Where Teela studied seriously and fervently learned the skills of battle, Adam played, joked and poked fun at his teachers. That's not to say he wasn't a good student. On the contrary, for all his playfulness he received excellent grades, learned to wield a sword, bow and arrow and photon gun.

The better he became the more Teela became angry because she thought this was somber business. One day Adam would be king and he certainly wasn't acting very royally. King Randor and Queen Marlena cast uneasy eyes over Adam's pranks as well. Time would come, they thought, when he'll put away childish ideas and realize his destiny. But it appeared it might take a very long while. Even Adam's pet, the giant Eternian tiger, CRINGER, seemed ill-suited to a prince of the realm. For all his ferocious looks, the Tiger was a cowardly cat -- hiding from danger when convenient and satisfied to lie by the fire like an old yellow and black rug.

During these formative years, eyes on Infinita kept watch over the actions on Eternia. Skeletor and his companions lusted and raged at what they saw. Fortunately, the Sorceress hid from prying eyes those things which should be secret -- such as Teela's true parentage.

Skeletor, with the help of Evil-Lyn, Beast Man, Tri-Klops and other heinous characters such as MER-MAN who made his home in the SLIME SWAMP of Infinita, plotted and planned how to break the seal of the Space Portal. Then it happened. The combined power of Skeletor's evil, Evil-Lyn's sorcery and Tri-Klops gammavision began to melt the seal. Slowly the Space Portal opened and Skeletor knew his day had arrived.

That day coincided with Adam's and Teela's eighteenth birthdays -- for they celebrated at the same time. A great feast took place within the palace. Teela sat with her father, Man-At-Arms, while King Randor and Queen Marlena looked anxiously at the chamber door waiting for Adam's appearance. Musicians, magicians and acrobats entertained the gathered throng with the finale being a mime presented by the great Eternian actor MAN-E-FACES, master of disguise who could look, act and talk like anyone he chose. Finally, Randor spoke to Man-At-Arms in order to find out if he knew why the prince was late. The warrior-inventor shrugged his armor clad shoulders, but Teela spoke up in a sarcastic voice.

"He's probably out in the fields somewhere playing with that chicken-hearted tiger and trying to impress some girls," she said derisively.

Queen Marlena requested that Teela remind Adam of the celebration and his duty to his people. Teela objected, but Man-At-Arms' stern glance convinced her to do as she was told.

Skeletor and his band of renegades stood before the portal which now opened wide. He relished this moment just before stepping through and onto the surface of Eternia. The others stood behind their master only waiting for the word. Evil-Lyn rubbed her hands with glee while Beast Man snapped his STUN WHIP in the air. Tri-Klops tried looking through the Space Portal, but even his vision wasn't sharp enough to cut through the murky cloud. Mer-Man, still dripping with primordial ooze, salivated at the thought of new worlds to conquer.

Beast Man turned to Skeletor and a light blazed in his eyes as he reminded the skelton-faced brute that beneath Eternia's surface dwelt monsters upon which he could call to do his bidding. The monsters had been kept in confinement for thousands of years by the combined mind power of the planet's ancients. Once they entered the portal all the forces of evil would unleash themselves and the dragons, griffins, gorgons, orcs and other foul beasts would be under Beast Man's subjugation. Skeletor reminded the lion-maned recreant that while those base creatures might be under Beast Man's influence, Beast Man remained under Skeletor's power.

Teela almost forcibly dragged Adam back to the festal chamber and all the court rose and cheered the young Prince who one day would rule Eternia. He sat between his parents and proposed a toast.

"Friends, all who know me for these eighteen years, I raise a cup to the one who taught me everything and to whom I owe my strength of arms -- Hail, Man-At-Arms!"

When everyone had drained the first cup, Adam stood once more. "And a toast to one other with whom I've fought, laughed and played. Someone who tried and still tried to keep me on the straight and narrow path -- unfortunately, it doesn't work too often. To my best friend, Teela!"

The young woman didn't know whether to acknowledge the toast or throw her cup at the prince. Restrained by her father she settled back. King Randor announced that in celebration of Teela's birthday and in honor of her strength and prowess with weapons she would be named Captain of the Royal Guard. Teela bowed to the king then leaped to the center of the room. Targets had been mounted on the walls and as swift as a bird, with the strength of a she-lion, she literally shattered each bullseye with ax, laser, halberd and photon gun. Then she whipped out a quaser and quickly carved the royal signet in the granite wall of the chamber. Next, three of the strongest men in Eternia entered the room and challenged her at one time. Teela darted back and forth lashing out with fists and feet in lightning thrusts until all three adversaries found themselves on their backs from the onslaught.

All of a sudden the palace shook as if an earthquake rolled across the land. Everyone paused and waited for the aftershock, but none came. The king bade the people to continue feasting. Only Man-At-Arms seemed ill at ease and Adam saw it in his eyes.

He tried to speak to his teacher, but the warrior sat as if in a trance. A voice spoke to Man-At-Arms, a voice he hadn't heard in eighteen years. The voice of the Sorceress. "Man-At-Arms", she whispered in his inner ear, "you who have been the guardian of Eternia's war secrets, an evil power, greater than any witnessed in all the universe threatens our world. You must come to Castle Grayskull with Prince Adam. There can be no delay."

Man-At-Arms turned to Adam and grabbed him by the arm. They had to leave immediately and no one must know where they are. The look on his teacher's face told Adam more than mere words. He nodded his head and suggested that Man-At-Arms leave first. The prince would join him at the edge of the castle grounds.

During Man-E-Faces' mime Adam slipped out the side door and ran to Man-At-Arms side. He wanted to know what was going on and where they were going. Man-At-Arms told him they headed for Castle Grayskull and the prince laughed.

"Castle Grayskull?" questioned Adam, "it doesn't exist. It's part of Eternia's mythology. No one's ever seen it or been able to find it."

An immense shadow passed overhead as Zoar the Falcon skimmed the very treetops. Man-At-Arms pointed skyward. "There's our guide. Don't ask questions."

Far to the north, on the Ice Mountains, an avalanche rolled down the slopes. Where the snow and rock had been high on the crag there now shimmered a hole -- not a cave or cavern, not part of the mountain, but hovering in space blinked and winked the once sealed Space Portal which had kept the tyrants of Infinita from invading Eternia.

Skeletor, Beast Man, Evil-Lyn, Tri-Klops and Mer-Man strode from the portal. They stepped out and fierce winds roared about them. Skeletor stretched out his arms. He clenched the Havoc Staff and from its ram's head eyes rays poured. Skeletor laughed as the staff quivered in his hands.

"You can feel it in the very air, that sense of goodness and purity. Oh, I remember the stories my ancestors passed down through the ages. Conquer that spirit of goodness -- whatever it is and I could rule the universe for within it lies all the wisdom of Eternia. Come on, my friends, let's look at our future home." With that he called Panthor and the great purple cat bounded to his side, the green saddle in place. Skeletor mounted the beast and charged off leaving his companions behind.

Man-At-Arms and Adam forged their way deeper and deeper into the Evergreen Forest. Always ahead of them the giant falcon slowly glided every now and then it flapped its immense wings, caught the updrafts, spiraled skyward then drifted down in ever-widening circles.

Adam thought Man-At-Arms had lost his wits. Following a bird into the uncharted depths of the forest seemed folly until Man-At-Arms halted his relentless trek and pointed through the great trees. The prince peered through the interlaced branches. Something glimmered green and gray; something solid and substantial, but hidden behind the ferns and trees of the Evergreen Forest. Something ancient, dark and mysterious loomed ahead.

The falcon disappeared with a dive into the thicket as the two Eternians stood before an impenetrable wall of tree trunks, branches, and thorn bushes. Adam asked Man-At-Arms how he intended to get through and his teacher unholstered his laser gun. One blast would clear the way. Before he drew it out, however, the Sorceress' voice told him to put away his weapon. The trees began to separate as intertwined branches let go of each other and the thorn bushes parted a path. Adam and Man-At-Arms stood rooted to the spot for before them towered the eminence of CASTLE GRAYSKULL.

The castle glowed down at them. The immense jawbridge appeared sealed tight after centuries of inactivity. The black tower windows stared at them as if daring them to step closer. Adam thought he must be dreaming for Grayskull was only a story told to children at bedtime yet here was the ancient fortress supposedly the guardian of all Eternia's secrets.

Many times he had heard tballadsads and tales that he who possessed Grayskull could have untold wealth and power. Now it was here, in front of him and he was timid before its awesomeness.

Adam's revery snapped as thunder rolled from the castle and the jawbridge descended. Within the entrance to Grayskull stood the figure of a woman holding a golden, serpentine staff which seemed alive. The Sorceress beckoned Man-At-Arms and Adam to follow her her inside the edifice. Slowly and carefully they entered and the jawbridge snapped closed, shutting out all light. The Sorceress staff provided a beacon as the strange trio moved through rock carved corridors and up narrow staircases until they reached a great bolted door. The Sorceress pointed her staff at the entry. The bolts flew back and the door swung open revealing a chamber which delighted Man-At-Arms' eyes.

A myriad of scientific instruments filled the room. Lights blinked from hundreds of microprocessors created from the very stuff of the universe. An amorphous shape hovered in the center of the sanctum. The Sorceress addressed the two men. She knew they were curious and wanted to understand what was transpiring. Man-At-Arms had only been told that great danger existed. Adam still remained in the dark. She would show them the danger, she said, as she pointed her staff at the cloud and a pictudissolvedved itself. There, at the Space Portal within the Ice Mountains, stood Beast Man, Evil-LyTri-Klopsops and Mer-Man. The picture quivered and now Skeletor appeared with his gruesome, fearful countenance.

The Sorceress proceeded to tell Man-At-Arms and Adam a brief history of Eternia and how Grayskull came into existence. She withheld the story of the Council of Elders for that would be told in its time. Adam asked who this champion would be? Where did he come from? With that the Sorceress looked upon the prince with her stern, dark, wise eyes. She told him there was one who could save Eternia and the universe. Perhaps, in time, he would also rule as the true Master of the Universe along with others of good heart and true.

Man-At-Arms at last broke his silence. He also wished to know where this champion lived and why hadn't he come forth at once. To this the Sorceress answered:

"He is one among you. The last to be thought of and yet the first in many minds."

She raised her serpent staff and out of the very air within the chamber a brilliant light gathered together into a magnificent sword which gleamed with the soul of a thousand fires.

"Behold the SWORD OF POWER created from the very heart of Castle Grayskull and imbued with the forces of the ancients who once dwelt bodily within its walls at a very different time. Take hold of the sword Man-At-Arms."

The warrior-teacher reached out and grabbed the handle. A knot of pain raced from the weapon through his hand and into his arm. As quickly as he snatched the sword he let it go. Man-At-Arms had never experienced such excruciating anguish in his life and he had been through battle where swords and lasers and photons left scars as testimony to his bravery.

Adam watched in amazement. Never before had he seen his teacher flinch at anything. "The sword knows its master," intoned the Sorceress. "Adam, take the sword!"

The prince backed off, shaking his head. If it could make Man-At-Arms wary he was no match for this dancing blade. The Sorceress voice poured forth like a trumpet. "Take the sword, Prince Adam!"

With a pounding heart Adam reached out a steady hand ready to retreat in a moment. He didn't have to grasp the hilt for it floated gently into his palm. The grip felt as if it had been molded to his hand. It was light as a feather and seemed to shine brighter as he held it. Adam looked questioningly at the Sorceress. Man-At-Arms backed away from his young pupil as the guardian of Grayskull approached the prince.

"Hear me and hear me well," she said, firmly. "The mastery of the Sword of Power is insignificant to the mastery of yourself and the conquest of evil which even now stands upon Eternia. You, Prince Adam, are heir to all Eternia's wisdom and power, but it shall not come easily for you must earn it by your actions and your actions will be dictated by your heart and your head. You shall go forth and battle the power-mad Skeletor -- that spawn of a base and vile world where treachery rules. You shall use your might to defeat his renegade companions who subject themselves to his will for the hope they may rule Eternia by his side."

Standing straight and tall, Adam demanded to know how he, a mere mortal, could accomplish all the things desired by the Sorceress.

"Within you," chanted the keeper of Grayskull, "is a soul of power and might and truth. The soul of one called HE-MAN." Adam continued looking without comprehension upon this strange woman of miracles. "Raise the sword above your head, Prince Adam." He lifted the blade toward the heavens. "Now call out 'By the power of Grayskull!'"

Adam opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat. Man-At-Arms stepped to Adam's side and prodded his student. Adam finally shouted the words. A blazing, brilliant, flaring burst of light illuminated the room. Man-At-Arms shielded his eyes from the incredible white blast of energy. The prince was obliterated from sight except for the Sword of Power which seemed suspended over the spot where Adam stood.

The light faded and when Man-At-Arms opened his eyes an awesome vision stood in place of the prince. A man, vaguely resembling Prince Adam, with mighty rippling muscles, taller by a head than the prince, with wild shoulder-length hair, piercing eyes, clad in a battle kilt, buckler shod with leather boots strapped about with supple metal bands and girded by a belt of many pockets. This was HE-MAN champion of Eternia, bearer of all Eternia's virtue.

He-Man looked down and about himself in amazement. The Sorceress informed him that The Sword of Power had the ability to cut through almost anything on Eternia as well as ward off magic and sorcery. She held out a shield which almost vibrated with a life force of its own, the shield could repel both magic spells and weapons.

Incredulously he asked the Sorceress what happened in a voice which boomed with great authority. The Sorceress told him that his destiny was to drive the evil powers from Eternia, to protect it and its people from Skeletor who wished to rule the universe through the dark powers and to prevent the demon of Infinita from discovering and destroying the secret of Grayskull.

With that, He-Man wanted to know what was the secret. The Sorceress beckoned the mighty warrior to follow her. Man-At-Arms walked behind He-Man, but she stopped him. The secret would be He-Man's alone for Man-At-Arms was a mere mortal and should not be subjected to the possibility of inadvertently revealing the mystic power of Grayskull.

Slipping the Sword of Power into his belt, He-Man descended into the very bowels of the castle. The Sorceress tapped her staff upon the dark, moss covered stones of the lowest dungeon. The floor dissolved as if made of water and a vapor flowed up around about them as they slowly sank through a star filled chamber where the very walls glowed with an inner light. Then the stones above them became solid once more.

The chamber in which He-Man and the Sorceress stood seemed constructed of entirely of crystal which contained a light of purity and beauty. Within one of the crystal panels pulsated a blue-white orb neither quartz nor organic. The Sorceress bade He-Man listen carefully and he heard voices emanating from the pulsing sphere. It wasn't one voice, but multiple sounds -- as of many people speaking at once.

"These are the voices of Eternia's ancient elders," whispered the Sorceress. "Concentrated within that globe all the wisdom of the planet awaits he who shall destroy the purveyors of disaster and redeem the universe. But be warned, He-Man, that if Skeletor discovers the secret of Grayskull he will crush it -- for wisdom and virtue are fragile things, indeed. Then all goodness will be wiped out permitting corruption to reign over the galaxies, planets and the stars. This is your challenge!

"Use your strength wisely. As He-Man you can run as swift as the arrow flies. You can move and lift thousands of pounds. You have the power of concentration which permits you to to bend steel bars and crush iron gates with your bare hands. Your wisdom can overcome illusion cast by evil and dark powers. You have one great advantage, He-Man, over all Eternia's enemies and that is steadiness of purpose and the knowledge that you fight for right."

Man-At-Arms waited for the Sorceress' return. He ruminated what he had seen -- or thought he saw. Perhaps it had been illusion. To think of Adam as the planet's savior seemed ludicrous, but it was a perfect disguise. Who would ever think that the fun-loving prankster could be a majestic warrior? At that moment, a hollow laugh rang out and when he peered at the amorphous cloud another picture emerged -- Skeletor and his evil compatriots stood at the walls of the royal palace. With a wave of his ram-headed Havoc Staff the iron bound doors splintered and crashed to the ground. Panthor, with his master astride, padded into the king's own council room. Teela charged the demon, but her weapons were no match for Skeletor's sorcery as the very energy disappeared from her quaser and she was driven back to witness a blinding flash which locked Randor and Marlena into the Space/Time Dimension as if they were disembodied souls. Teela knew she had to find her father and escaped with Cringer at her heels.

In Castle Grayskull Adam entered the chamber to see a white face Man-At-Arms. He told the prince what happened. They had to get back to the palace in order to rescue his mother and father. As they bolted through the jawbridge they saw the Sorceress standing atop one of the parapets. "It begins now!" she called.

As Man-At-Arms and Adam raced through the Evergreen Forest, the teacher asked the prince if he had dreamed all that occurred. With that question Adam drew the sword from its scabbard, cried "By the Power of Grayskull!", the blade flashed and the transformation took place without a break in stride. Man-At-Arms knew the vision had been no dream.

The blaze from the sword shot upward, glanced off the bright, snow-capped peaks of the Ice Mountains and caromed back to earth where it struck Cringer running at Teela's heels. The cat stumbled with a dazed look on his feline face and underwent a phenomenal metamorphosis. The cowardly cat grew huge and muscular. His color changed to green with yellow stripes girded with saddle and helmet and snarling for a fight. With great leaps BATTLE CAT loomed through the forest heading for his master, He-Man.

Man-At-Arms was the first to see the gigantic beast and he drew his laser gun only to have his hand stayed by He-Man. The champion told the warrior this was Battle Cat, the Sorceress' answer to Skeletor's Panthor. He leaped upon the animal pulling Man-At-Arms with him and they careened toward the palace. Battle Cat's transfiguration not only gave him bravery and strength, but the power of speech and he growled that Teela had escaped from the palace and headed their way. He-Man gave the steed his head.

The armor-clad cat unerringly aimed for Teela and when their paths crossed the Captain of the Guard veered back with sword in hand. Man-At-Arms jumped from the cat's back surprising Teela with his sudden appearance on that apparition. Explanations could wait, he informed her, they had to rescue the king and queen and free the palace from Skeletor's dominion. He-Man reached down and with an easy lift propelled Teela onto Battle-Cat's back along with her father. The woman grasped the champion about the waist as the animal almost soared through the trees.

Skeletor rampaged through the palace chortling with fanatic glee. Randor and Marlena, locked in the Space/Time Dimension, could only hear and Skeletor knew it taunting them with his demonic desire to conquer Eternia, learn its secrets and rule the universe through havoc, rage, desolation and destruction.

In their own way, Evil-Lyn,



Beast Man and Tri-Klops relished their dominion over Marlena. Without telling her who they had once been, they tortured the queen with their knowledge of her past life and their eagerness to get her dissolute son, Adam, in their grasp. They'd teach him the ways of Infinita and watch the king and queen squirm with anguish.

He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela and Battle Cat moved carefully toward the palace. No guards watched the destroyed entrance or stood upon the towers. The once bright and happy mansion reeked with a fetid odor -- the smell of Infinita. Teela warned He-Man of Skeletor's magic and the paladin smiled confidently.

First they had to get rid of Skeletor's companions and since Evil-Lyn was also a sorceress she might be difficult so subterfuge was the order of the day. Battle Cat would make a frontal assault leading Beast Man away from the palace while Teela enticed the three-eyed terror from his post. Man-At-Arms would force Evil-Lyn into a wild goose chase permitting He-Man's confrontation with Skeletor. He trusted his buckler, shield and sword would work. At least it provided a good testing ground.

Battle Cat roared into the palace and, just as He-Man predicted, Beast Man charged after the cat snapping and cracking his stun whip thinking that he could control the giant tiger.

Teela encountered Tri-Klops, but not before his gammavision picked her out as he came around a corner. His power mace whistled through the air, but Teela leaped out of the way, wrested a staff from the wall and Tri-Klops found himself in a battle with one of the strongest, most agile, cunning warriors on Eternia.

Man-At-Arms needed all the skill at his command when he encountered Evil-Lyn and Mer-Man. Her fierce sorcery could render a man into a charred ash. Unfortunately, her wild, intemperate nature prevented Evil-Lyn from living up to her potential. Man-At-Arms' armor protected him from the onslaught of energy darts, lightning bolts and fire balls. And Evil-Lyn wasn't helped by a cowardly Mer-Man who ran at the first opportunity. Using his own lasers and photon guns he countered her wizardry with science as they careened through the palace.

Randor's and Marlena's cries echoed through the great estate and He-Man shuddered at the thought of their capture by Skeletor. Bursting through one door after another he hunted the bony-faced terror. A clap of thunder broke before the champion and there stood Skeletor, his Havoc Staff held before him. The vicious devil had never seen such a person before -- one who dared challenge his destructive powers. He-Man strode forward and demanded Skeletor release his prisoners. His answer was a flash of fire enveloping He-Man. The fighter concentrated his energy and the fiery illusion disappeared.



He charged headlong toward the demon. Bolts of force flared forth from Skeletor only to be warded off by He-Man's weapons. Then Skeletor summoned up a phalanx of ghastly creatures from the depths of hell. Harpies and hags, gargoyles and goblins, spectres and quasits with fangs, scales, barbs and claws formed a shield between the hero and villain. Although his shield and sword prevented him from mortal wounds he felt their hot, repulsive breath upon his face; their claws and fangs tearing at him; the utter miasma of their malodorous bodies surrounding him while he tore through the creatures.

Skeletor raised his Havoc Staff, but not before He-Man retrieved a razor-edge Whizzer from his belt and propelled it at the staff slashing it from Skeletor's hand. The magic shield before him he dived forward slamming the skeleton-faced brute against a wall and warning him to release Randor and Marlena or all the power of Grayskull would destroy him.

Skeletor had never faced such a foe as He-Man before and released control of the king and queen. They reappeared and He-Man ran to their side allowing Skeletor to escape through the Space Portal to Infinita and the relative safety of Snake Mountain.

The palace rejoiced and accolades were rained upon He-Man, champion and defender of Eternia. However, he didn't wait for the honors. This new knight-errant swiftly flew from the palace and in his place came Prince Adam, the boy who loved to play and never seemed to grow up.

Our story doesn't end here, it only begins. Adam/He-Man must always stay vigilant against the forces of evil forged by the demonic hand of Skeletor. The ruler of Infinita realizes that within Castle Grayskull resides, not only He-Man's power, but the secret to ruling the universe. He doesn't know it's true nature and He-Man must prevent Skeletor from finding out. He-Man has the help of tried and true friends in Man-At-Arms, Teela and Battle Cat. Along the way, others join forces with He-Man. Fighters for justice such as:

GORPO* - a tiny, mystical alien who dropped in quite unexpectedly from another dimension and made himself at home in the royal palace. Gorpo doesn't usually walk, instead he floats a couple of feet off the ground. His amusing tricks and quick wit entertained the king and queen who decreed the alien to be the official Magical Jester-in-Residence. Unfortunately, Gorpo's magic doesn't always work as well as it should. Gorpo has a hard enough time just pulling a rabbit from a helmet or making an egg materialize. The rabbit inevitably gets loose and sends Cringer up a tree. And the egg may materialize in Man-At-Arms' pocket -- broken. Because he's always popping up at odd place, Gorpo discovers Adam's other persona and is sworn to loyal secrecy by the Sorceress.

STRATOS - feathered hero of the skyways and leader of Avion, situated high among the peaks of the Mystic Mountains, where his people and family dwell. Stratos wife, DELORA, is a human from the fertile lands near the royal palace. Stratos became He-Man's lifelong friend when the champion of Eternia saved Avion from Skeletor's vengeance. His aerial acrobatics create discord among Skeletor's minions and he uses his agility in the air to help He-Man in his constant fight against evil.

RAM MAN - the bullet-headed, armor-plated fighter's greatest asset is his ability to ram down any object that gets in his or He-Man's way. Ram Man's a bit of a klutz who often stumbles over solutions without any awareness that he's done so -- thus helping He-Man uncover plots, and solve some of Eternia's more enigmatic mysteries.

MAN-E-FACES - Eternia's most distinguished actor, a master of disguise who can, in an instant transform himself into anyone -- or anything. He'd like nothing better than to perform on the stage, but since Skeletor's coming he places himself at He-Man's command whenever his unique skills are required. Man-E-Faces has one disguise which he uses infrequently -- he becomes a raging beast, but only against the enemies of Eternia.

LIZARD MAN* - moves quietly, quickly and has the agility of his namesake. He climbs perpendicular walls and his tough lizard skin provides protection against most of his enemies. Liz has one drawback -- every year he molts and becomes vulnerable to attack and completely useless to anyone.

SPY MAN* - an able fighter, he has the ability to literally periscope his neck above obstacles in order to survey the landscape. This trait comes in handy when he's with He-Man and they have to know the enemy's location.

BUGOFF* - part man, part beetle, but with high-tech wings, flies swiftly and fast. His sword and lance are his stingers. Bugoff's beetle-like armor protects him from many dangers including some of the laser weapons of Skeletor and his crew.

* These names are not set yet and may change.

Man-At-Arms inventions prove invaluable to the conquest of evil as He-Man's needs call for all the ingenuity the inventor can muster. Some of Man-At-Arms' creations are:

WIND RAIDER - a powerful, jet-propelled craft capable of flying through the Eternian skies and whipping the Harmony Sea or the Ocean of Gnarl. Equipped with laser and photon guns, the vehicle seats two people, but it takes He-Man's skill to master the controls although Teela has learned how to handle the vehicle under the champion's instruction.

BATTLE RAM - an enormous four wheeled vehicle capable of battering down anything in its way including mountains, iron doors or even people. A ramming catapult which can be launched great distances from atop the conveyance. The controls for the ram are in the quaser-equipped SKY SLED, which, when detached becomes a fast flying transport for one person.

ATTACK TRAK - a mechanized vehicle which carries up to four people sort of has a mind of its own. Loping along on four elliptical wheels it climbs hills, fords streams, and generally can go where other wheeled vehicles dare not tread. It obeys only He-Man's commands. If one of the villains attempts to ride the Attack Track, it bucks and rears like a bronco with a burr under its saddle. Anyone trying to steal the machine finds feet a much more reliable mode of transportation.

TALON FIGHTER - this winged flying vehicle carries two passengers and is able to execute death-defying aerial acrobatics. Equipped with a special bombpack under its belly, He-Man can call the fighter when its needed. Its resting place is atop a far peak called PT. DREAD which materializes whenever the Talon Fighter comes to rest. Only He-Man has the physical fortitude and strength of will to control it. The flying machine goes out of unless He-Man's in command.

TRI TRAK - a three-wheeled motorcycle which He-Man uses whenever he needs a fast ground transport. Tri Trak travels most of the places the Attack Trak goes only much faster. The motorcycle bears two very deadly photon machine guns.

ROTON - when this vehicle's in the fight, He-Man's enemies scatter, literally. He-Man rides atop the round vehicle which has a swiftly moving buzzsaw sipping around its center. Instead of blades, the buzzsaw's blunted, club-like appendages sweep away anything or anyone in the way. What of Skeletor's company? He'll call up a wicked arsenal of wizardry, sorcery, beasts and creatures in his quest to destroy all that's good on Eternia.

Some of his Renegades of Revenge are:

TRAP JAW - part human, part robot, he's a fearsome criminal stranded on Infinita and fallen under the command of Skeletor. Trap Jaw has a removable artificial arm which can be replaced by a laser blaster, hook sword or other devices of evil. Sometimes he isn't fast enough to make the change and then He-Man or his friends get the better of the vicious criminal. His jaw is a hideous steel trap which can chew through almost anything and he's totally evil and villainous.

FAKER - looks exactly like He-Man, but he's an android created by Skeletor's evil science. Skeletor uses Faker in order to gain the confidence of He-Man's friends, thus making it easier for the skull-faced demon to wreak his havoc on Eternia. Faker can be outwitted by having his microprocessors fouled up. His machinery is hidden beneath a removable breastplate and the android must be serviced regularly or he acts up.

BLACK WIDOW* - as his name suggests, this creepy individual has no scruples whatever. His chief asset is the ability to spin a strong web line in order to climb, snare and imprison those against whom he seeks revenge.

FANG MAN* - a reptilian monster who, when he wants to disable his foe, breathes a sleeping gas upon them so they can be taken captive.

CHOPPER* - has a right hand that's enormous. With one mighty blow this villain can chop through bricks, trees, anything that gets in his way. He's formidable in hand-to-hand combat.

Skeletor's own inventiveness, while not the equal to Man-At-Arms, comes up with some special vehicles of his own such as:

TORNADO TRAVELER* - a wild, whipping flying craft which only Skeletor can control through the skies of both Infinita and Eternia. Whenever it appears it's preceded by a violent windstorm.

WAR SLED - this roving wheeled vehicle is the evil opposite of the Battle Ram and does many of the same things.

GRINDER* - a four-wheeled vehicle capable of crushing to a pulp anything in its path. Beast Man loves this machine because of its cruel, insensitive nature. These than, are the forces of good and evil at work in that far solar system where demons, demi-gods, heroes and champions battle. Where He-Man fights a never-ending war to wipe out evil from Eternia and insure that goodness, purity and virtue reign supreme throughout the universe.

*names are not set and may change.

© 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 Filmation. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright Mattel, Inc. 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986. All Rights Reserved.



hope you enjoyed this version of a new age religion bible i found, it is called the masters of the universe bible i think, but i like it for all its new agey type words and terms, really good read.

and of course there as witches in the masters of the universe series as well, with madame razz, which is the witch in the masters of the universe and you do not get more new age then having a witch in the cartoon with madame razz.

and as i already mentioned earlier have just been reading that there is going to be a new he man and the masters of the universe for 2010 or 2011.

this clip below is what someone put together but not the actual he man movie trailer-

He-Man: Masters of the Universe Movie Teaser